Atonement meets 'Salt of the Earth' anniversary

Monday, March 3, 2014

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The 60th anniversary of the blacklisted film "Salt of the Earth" is coming amid atonement.

Joining celebrations about the movie depicting a real-life miners' strike in southwestern New Mexico are deputies from the same sheriff's office that tried to break the strike and run over women strikers. And a film workers' union, which once distance itself from the production, now is working to promote the film's history.

A number of anniversary events are scheduled this month around the state to honor the 1954 film.

"Salt of the Earth" was blacklisted in the United State during Cold War retribution against left-leaning filmmakers. Told through the eyes of Esperanza, played by Mexican actress Rosaura Revueltas (reh -VOOEHL-tahs), the film later because a feminist and Chicano Studies classic because of its depiction of discrimination against Mexican Americans and women.